SYDNEY FC have held off a bold
last-minute bid from English giants Liverpool to secure the prized
signature of superstar Alessandro Del Piero.
In the biggest and most expensive signing in the Australian soccer history, the Sky Blues were delighted Del Piero snubbed Liverpool to take up their two-year deal, understood to be worth $2million per season, and be the face of the game.
The club's chief executive Tony Pignata flew to Turin on the weekend to ensure the deal - which will earn the World Cup winner more than $70,000 a week - was completed.
A relaxed and clean shaven Del Piero, dressed smartly in a grey pinstripe suit, sat next to Pignata at the Principi Hotel in Turin to confirm he was headed Down Under last night.
"For the next two years I am Australian," he said. "This is something that is close to my heart. I want to lift the sport in this country. It's an honour to be called to Australia.
"I am coming to Sydney to score and to win. I want to play in front of full stadiums.
"I am looking forward to this adventure. I can't wait to come to Australia and start making an impact."
Pignata believes the reported $2 million dollar a season salary used to help entice the famed Italian footballer to Australia will be returned to the club's coffers by an increase in fan support, bums on seats and sponsorship in the wake of Sydney FC securing the highly prized signature of the Juventus legend.
But Pignata knows that impact might take some time.
"It will take a little bit for him to adjust to the A-League," the Sydney FC boss told 2KY radio this morning from Turin, where the deal was formalised late Wednesday night. "We are very confident he will come and have a huge impact."
Pignata said the enormity of Sydney FC's coup in signing the Italian was brought home to him by the coverage in Thursday's Daily Telegraph.
"To make the back page of the Daily Telegraph in NRL (finals) time is not a bad effort," Pignata said.
Sydney FC beat off the likes of Liverpool to secure Del Piero for the next two A-League seasons.
"We have to (make the money back)," Pignata said. "It's basically my job on the line."
The 37-year-old said in a press release late last night: "I'm extremely happy to be joining Sydney FC.
"This is a very big moment for me because I want to continue my career in a new part of the world where I can make a major contribution and help grow the game I love. The most important thing for me has always been the football and I want to help Sydney FC be successful.
"This is an exciting journey for me and I look forward to joining my new team mates in Sydney shortly."
The Italian press went into meltdown over del Piero's future, with La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport dedicating their front page to the Juventus hero's A-League move.
Former Italian international and one-time Sydney marquee man Benito Carbone also did his best to convince Del Piero to make the move.
"I told him to accept, because if one wants to go to a place where the quality of life is high and the stock much quieter, there is perfect," Carbone told Turin newspaper La Stampaa.
"Sydney is a fantastic city and the only time I cried for a farewell was just when I had to leave Australia."
Liverpool were keen to bolster their attacking stocks after striker Andy Carroll signed with West Ham, only to miss out on Fulham's attacking midfielder Clint Dempsey, who signed with Tottenham.
Former Socceroos goalkeeper and The Daily Telegraph columnist Mark Bosnich had two words for the news about Del Piero's arrival: "Absolutely marvellous."
But Bosnich warned Del Piero alone would not automatically deliver Sydney the title.
Sydney last week made their intentions clear they were prepared to throw huge cash at Del Piero after marquee man Nicky Carle took up a rich one-year deal in the Middle East.
Del Piero, who is expected to arrive a fortnight before the season kick-off on October 6, is keen to leave a legacy in Australia and lift the sport's profile. He broke Australian hearts when he played in the World Cup game in 2006, which ended the Socceroos' Cup campaign."I'm sure I will get many questions about that (2006) game against Australia." he quipped. "The Socceroos had a great team. Italy was lucky."
There has been no shortage of excitement locally about his arrival, with Sydney's goalkeeping coach and former AC Milan gloveman Zeljko Kalac tipping more than 20,000 fans would turn up each week to see the Italian maestro.
Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow said: "This signing is a major coup for Sydney FC and marks a historic day for football in this country. This is for all Australian football fans."
sumber : http://www.news.com.au/
In the biggest and most expensive signing in the Australian soccer history, the Sky Blues were delighted Del Piero snubbed Liverpool to take up their two-year deal, understood to be worth $2million per season, and be the face of the game.
The club's chief executive Tony Pignata flew to Turin on the weekend to ensure the deal - which will earn the World Cup winner more than $70,000 a week - was completed.
A relaxed and clean shaven Del Piero, dressed smartly in a grey pinstripe suit, sat next to Pignata at the Principi Hotel in Turin to confirm he was headed Down Under last night.
"For the next two years I am Australian," he said. "This is something that is close to my heart. I want to lift the sport in this country. It's an honour to be called to Australia.
"I am looking forward to this adventure. I can't wait to come to Australia and start making an impact."
Pignata believes the reported $2 million dollar a season salary used to help entice the famed Italian footballer to Australia will be returned to the club's coffers by an increase in fan support, bums on seats and sponsorship in the wake of Sydney FC securing the highly prized signature of the Juventus legend.
But Pignata knows that impact might take some time.
"It will take a little bit for him to adjust to the A-League," the Sydney FC boss told 2KY radio this morning from Turin, where the deal was formalised late Wednesday night. "We are very confident he will come and have a huge impact."
Pignata said the enormity of Sydney FC's coup in signing the Italian was brought home to him by the coverage in Thursday's Daily Telegraph.
"To make the back page of the Daily Telegraph in NRL (finals) time is not a bad effort," Pignata said.
Sydney FC beat off the likes of Liverpool to secure Del Piero for the next two A-League seasons.
"We have to (make the money back)," Pignata said. "It's basically my job on the line."
The 37-year-old said in a press release late last night: "I'm extremely happy to be joining Sydney FC.
"This is a very big moment for me because I want to continue my career in a new part of the world where I can make a major contribution and help grow the game I love. The most important thing for me has always been the football and I want to help Sydney FC be successful.
"This is an exciting journey for me and I look forward to joining my new team mates in Sydney shortly."
The Italian press went into meltdown over del Piero's future, with La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport dedicating their front page to the Juventus hero's A-League move.
Former Italian international and one-time Sydney marquee man Benito Carbone also did his best to convince Del Piero to make the move.
"I told him to accept, because if one wants to go to a place where the quality of life is high and the stock much quieter, there is perfect," Carbone told Turin newspaper La Stampaa.
"Sydney is a fantastic city and the only time I cried for a farewell was just when I had to leave Australia."
Liverpool were keen to bolster their attacking stocks after striker Andy Carroll signed with West Ham, only to miss out on Fulham's attacking midfielder Clint Dempsey, who signed with Tottenham.
Former Socceroos goalkeeper and The Daily Telegraph columnist Mark Bosnich had two words for the news about Del Piero's arrival: "Absolutely marvellous."
But Bosnich warned Del Piero alone would not automatically deliver Sydney the title.
Sydney last week made their intentions clear they were prepared to throw huge cash at Del Piero after marquee man Nicky Carle took up a rich one-year deal in the Middle East.
Del Piero, who is expected to arrive a fortnight before the season kick-off on October 6, is keen to leave a legacy in Australia and lift the sport's profile. He broke Australian hearts when he played in the World Cup game in 2006, which ended the Socceroos' Cup campaign."I'm sure I will get many questions about that (2006) game against Australia." he quipped. "The Socceroos had a great team. Italy was lucky."
There has been no shortage of excitement locally about his arrival, with Sydney's goalkeeping coach and former AC Milan gloveman Zeljko Kalac tipping more than 20,000 fans would turn up each week to see the Italian maestro.
Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow said: "This signing is a major coup for Sydney FC and marks a historic day for football in this country. This is for all Australian football fans."
sumber : http://www.news.com.au/
{ 0 comments... read them below or add one }
Post a Comment